For a long time, I didn't share this story publicly. But after 2.5 years, it feels important to. What was supposed to be one of the most joyful parts of building my dream home - adding a pool - became one of the most stressful and disillusioning experiences of my life. I hired a contractor who ultimately harmed multiple families financially (at least 4 families that we know of, for well over $100k), leaving behind unfinished work, exposed foundations, and unanswered questions. I was forced to take legal action, which is never fun and always costly. As everything unraveled, it became clear that this situation went far beyond poor project management - permits were tied to someone else's license, there were overlapping companies, and layers of deception that only became visible once the damage was already done. One moment I will never forget: this contractor stood in my backyard talking to me about "leaving a legacy" for his children - with his sons right there. After signing the contract and waiting months with no progress, my follow-ups were sometimes met with photos of extravagant vacations offered as explanations for the delays. At the time, I didn't fully process it. With the clarity that comes from time, those memories land very differently now. I can't say for certain, but if I were a betting woman, I would bet that he took multiple family's life savings and had a blast....then, of course, declared bankruptcy when things started to catch up to him. All of this happened while I was recovering from a spine injury. I was physically limited, emotionally exhausted, and trying to protect something I had worked my whole life to build. There were moments when I genuinely believed my home might be permanently compromised. A massive hole was dug, my foundation exposed, and then everything stopped. Equipment disappeared. Communication was nonexistent. I was left to figure out how to move forward with the ticking time bomb of having an exposed foundation on my brand new home. And yet - amid all of that - there were people who restored my faith. A structural engineer, (Matt Ingram, an AU grad!) who had also been left unpaid, stepped in and helped me understand what had happened. He offered guidance, critical information, and support simply because it was the right thing to do. After an exhaustive search for a company willing to take on a complicated situation (I know this will come as a shock, but no one wanted to touch this situation with a 10-foot pole), he connected me to Cox Pools of the Southeast - truly a turning point in this journey. I want to specifically thank James, Robert, and McLane. Construction projects are never perfect, but integrity shows in how challenges are handled. Cox Pools, based out of the Dothan area, drove up to Auburn, listened to my story, stood with me through a lot of tears, and gave me hope when I had very little left. They were my hail mary. They were honest, communicative, and relentlessly solution-focused. More importantly, they treated me and my home with genuine care and respect. They delivered a pool that was quite literally out of my dreams. They stepped into a situation they didn't create and helped transform it into something safe, beautiful, and thoughtfully built. What began as a "want" ultimately became a necessity for my healing and recovery, and they understood that in a deeply human way. This experience cost me a lot of time, money, health, and peace of mind - but more importantly, it also reminded me that good people still exist in this world. Cox Pools not only created a haven for me, they also healed a piece of my soul that was so broken from this process. If you're navigating a construction nightmare, first and foremost, I'm so sorry. It is brutal and exhausting in ways most people don't see or understand. Trust your instincts, document everything, and don't give up. And when you find the people who do things the right way, share their stories. (I should add, before working with Cox Pools, I also met with The Backyard Experience Pools and Spas - Eric was so incredibly kind, helpful, and honest - and they earned my pool maintenance business). This pool is more than a finished project and a dream realized. It's proof that integrity will always matter, that there are wonderful people in this world, and that sometimes the hardest detours lead you exactly where you were meant to be. Looking back, I truly believe that if the original project had been completed the way it started, my home may not have been safe - and I would never have met the incredible team of folks that ultimately made this possible. All this to say, if you need a pool...contact Cox Pools. You won't be disappointed, and you won't have a "typical" construction experience. You will be met with the utmost professionalism, folks who take immense pride in their work, clear and honest communication, and a team that truly stands behind what they build. read more

Cox Pools of the Southeast - Pool & Hot Tub Service Near Me - Orange Beach, Alabama

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The pool service is always thorough and timely. I have called them for assistance with specific issues that were quickly address. Blaine is very helpful. read more

Spent over 130k on a pool and there are constant problems and issues. The techs are nice that eventually come and fix stuff but there are no appointments they show up whenever and it could be months after you call. Inside scheduling is a mess . read more

Cox built our pool a couple of years ago and did a wonderful job. Our salesman Ryan, was very helpful with suggestions and designing our pool. Quick to respond to our questions and concerns. No major problems after having it for over 2 years now. read more

They built a beautiful pool for me. It is stunning! The owner is the nicest person I have ever dealt with. He cares about his customers. We had a few issues during the process, but he made everything right and I couldn't be happier with the end result. read more

Cox Pools of the Southeast - Pool & Hot Tub Service Near Me - Orange Beach, Alabama

Do not look any further than Cox Pools. The owner, Mr. Lovett, and his son Logan were professional and went above and beyond in the repair of our pool. Another company's poor workmanship resulted in four cracks in a brand new pool (ugh) and that company disappeared. After checking with various folks, Cox came highly recommended as one of the only companies skilled and competent in properly repairing cracks in plaster and gunite. The work they did was very detailed, and they explained every step carefully to us. They took time to chip out around all fixtures to prevent future leaks, injected a specialized epoxy into the cracks, then installed industrial staples as an extra measure of strength. For the first time since owning our pool, we have confidence in it. The crew was respectful and hardworking, and they left the job site in 5-star condition. We will use them for any future needs. They are *AWESOME* and we highly recommend them. Thank you, Mr. Lovett and Logan and Crew. read more

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This place pretty much sucks. Want to know why? Ok. I'll tell you. We moved to gulf shores. To a house without a pool. We wanted a pool. Easy enough. Right? We called 2 pool companies. Blue Haven pools and this place cox pools. Blue haven was great. Sales guy came out when he said he would. Did a drawing. Was on point. Price was a bit high. We called cox pools. Salesman missed the appointment. I called their office and they said - did you call him? My response was that we're trying to spend 50k on a pool. Why the heck should I be chasing this guy??? He said he wrote the appointment in his calendar for a week later. :eyeroll: so he showed up. Took some measurements and said he would get back to us in a few days. 10 days later we got a rendering not even close to what we spoke about. I asked him some Questions via email and no response. Finally after a month we decided to say F it and pay the higher price of blue haven. After all , what kind of service would they provide after the sale if they can't even follow through before the sale. So. Basically, Cox is a bunch of cocks. I would recommend using anyone else. Blue Haven is great and responsive. I swear I Don't work for them. I just hate companies that suck at what they do. We gave them plenty of chances to make it happen..........suck it, Cox. read more